POOLE Family History, Part II

Maria Jane OLNEY (1863-<1910)

13A.Maria Jane Olney was born March 5, 1863, in California, probably at the Olney family home on Greeley Hill, above Coulterville, Mariposa County. She married George E. Clark, a native of Maine, about 1882 or 1883. He was 14 years her senior. They had as many as six children:[Cen 1900]

13A1.

James E. Clark

Jul 1884

--

--

13A2.

William T. Clark

23 May 1887

--

--

13A3.

Blanche Velma Clark

11 Nov (1888)

(19 Feb 1969)

(80)

13A4.

Christa A. Clark

Dec 1890

Oct 1909

(18)

13A5.

Etta M. Clark

Jan 1894

--

--

13A6.

Charles A. Clark

Jan 1898

--

--

The Clark family lived Bull Creek Precinct (Coulterville) in 1900, where George worked as a house carpenter. Their house was owned free.[Cen 1900]

Maria Jane (Olney) Clark died between 1900 and 1910.[Cen 1900-1910] She would have been in her late 30s or early 40s.

By 1910, George and all but daughters Blanche and Christa moved north to Alturas, Modoc County, California. There they rented a house on Court Street. George and James worked as blacksmiths at a blacksmith shop, along with a roomer who worked there as a horse shoer. Son William worked as a house carpenter.[Cen 1910]

Mariposa Gazette, December 13, 1913

"George E. Clark, a former resident of this county, passed away at his home in Alturas, Modoc County, on December 1, 1913, of heart disease. Mr. Clark was a native of Maine and 64 years of age. He is survived by a grown up family of five, two daughters and three sons, to mourn his demise. His body was brought from Alturas in charge of William Clark, a son, for internment in the family plot in Dudley cemetery on Greeley hill. The funeral, which took place from the home of A. Olney, Sunday, December 7th, was attended by a large cortege of sorrowing relatives and friends to the last resting place."

George E. Clark died of heart disease on December 1, 1913, at his home in Alturas. His body was returned to Greeley Hill and buried at Dudley Cemetery on December 7, where he likely joined his wife and daughter Chrissie. George was 64 years old.[Obit 1913]

Children Blanche and Charles eventually made their way further north to Chehalis, Lewis County, Washington, by 1920.

Edward M. OLNEY (1865-1920)

13B.Edward M. Olney was born March 2, 1865, in California, probably at the Olney family home on Greeley Hill, above Coulterville, Mariposa County.

Edward owned a 160-acre plot in Coulterville described as Section 10 of Township 2S, Range 16E (i.e. about 3 miles north Coulterville proper). The property is further described as:

SE¼ of the NE¼ (40 acres)

N½ of the SE¼ (80 acres)

SW¼ of the SE¼ (40 acres)

In the 1900 census of Tuolumne Township 3, Tuolumne County, California, Edward and his two younger brothers George and Augustus are noted as boarders with the John B. Schofield family, Edward noted as an engineer.

Edward M. Olney died on December 29, 1919, in Coulterville after a hard days work at the Downey Scofield Ranch near Marshes Flat. He was 54 years old.

Mariposa Gazette, January 3, 1920

"Sudden Death of Edward Olney"

"Edward W. Olney, a native of Mariposa county, aged about 54 years was found dead in his bed yesterday morning in a cabin on the Downey Scofield ranch, near Marshes Flat."

"Mr. Olney and a nephew were helping with the plowing on the ranch and worked all day Monday. When they retired at the usual hour deceased seemed to be in his usual good health and spirits. In the morning the nephew found his uncle cold and dead beside him in the bed."

"Coroner O'BRIAN was notified and went to the Scofield ranch yesterday afternoon returning with the remains that evening."

"The funeral will take place Thursday morning. Mr. O'Beirne(sic) leaving Jamestown with the body in time to meet the family in Coulterville at 10 o'clock a.m. Internment to be in the family plot on the Dudley ranch."

"The deceased is survived by a widow and four brothers, Walter of Santa Rosa, George of Los Angeles, Alex of Stockton and Cyrus who resides in the east. Judge and James Opie attended the funeral."

Cyrus OLNEY (1869-)

13D.Cyrus Olney was born on January 7, 1869, in California, probably at the Olney family home on Greeley Hill, above Coulterville, Mariposa County. He lived with his family in Coulterville, Mariposa County, California, through the 1880 census and then is noted in the 1900 census working as a day laborer in nearby Tuolumne Township 3, Tuolumne County, California. Three of his brothers also worked nearby.

By 1910 Cyrus removed to his father's homeland of Rhode Island and wed Maude M. Naylor of Rhode Island. He and his bride lived with her parents at 520 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence, Providence County. Cyrus worked as a farm laborer during this time.[Cen 1910-1920]

Cyrus died on November 25, 1923, at his home in Rhode Island. He was 54 years old.

Mariposa Gazette, December 28, 1923

"FORMER COUNTY MAN DIES IN THE EAST"

"Word was received recently by the relatives in Stockton of the sudden death of Cyrus OLNEY at his home in Rhode Island on November 25th."

"Mr. OLNEY was a native of the Red Cloud district, Mariposa county, and a member of one of the large pioneer families of that section. He is survived by three brothers, Alex OLNEY of Stockton, Walter OLNEY of Santa Rosa and George Olney of Los Angeles."

Annie S. (OLNEY) OPIE (1871-1901)

13E.Annie S. Olney was born on July 3, 1871, in Coulterville, Mariposa County, California. She married James Opie of Cornwall, England, on January 15, 1888, in Mariposa County. After they wed the Opies moved to Stent in nearby Tuolumne County, adopted a daughter and later had two children of their own:

13D1.

Matilda Opie

Jul 1886

>1941

(>53)

13D2.

Bertha Opie

Mar 1888

13D3.

Emma Roselle Opie

24 Jan 1895

14 Jan 1969

(73)

13D4.

Joseph Augustus Opie

23 Jun 1897

11 Jan 1982

(84)

Opie Children

James and Annie adopted an infant daughter about the time of their marriage in 1888. The 1900 Tuolumne County census shows Bertha, then age 12 (born in March 1888), with the young Opie family. So far I have found no further trace of Bertha.[Cen 1900#093;

Interestingly, a Matilda Opie, then age 13 (born in June 1886), is enumerated in the 1900 Mariposa County census as a "servant" with the William Stowell family. Later, per James' obituary, a daughter named Matilda Stowell is listed. This Matilda married Seth M. Stowell, apparently William's younger brother.

As a result, we have two candidates for James and Annie's adopted daughter: Bertha, enumerated with them in 1900 but with no further record; and Matilda (Opie) Stowell who is confirmed in James' obituary but curiously living with another family during the same 1900 census. Could Matilda come from an earlier marriage of James'?

James Opie, was born in Cornwall in January 1862 and immigrated from England in 1869 as a young boy.[Cen 1900] His father may have immigrated as early as 1862 but didn't send for his wife and son until later. After James' arrival in 1869 they first settled in Hites Cove, but by the 1870 census they had resettled in Mariposa County, California where they resided through the 1880 census in Bull Creek.

Mariposa Gazette, January 21, 1888

"Opie-Olney - Near Coulterville, Mariposa County, January 15th, 1888, at the residence of the brides father, by M. Glynn, J.P., Mr. James Opie to Miss Annie Olney."

Mariposa Gazette, January 21, 1888

"Near Coulterville, Mariposa County, January 15th, 1888, at the residence of the brides father, by M. Glynn, J.P., Mr. James Opie to Miss Annie Olney."

"Matrimonial - From advices received from Coulterville, we learn that on Sunday last, at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. James Opai(sic), one of Coulterville popular young men, led to the alter Miss Annie, second daughter of Mr. Augustus Olney, and were tied together with strong matrimonial cords by M. Glynn, J.P. That the cords with which this surely happy couple were so solemnly bound may endure till that good old age we all wish to see, and that their future may always be as bright and happy as their present, is the fond wish of the Gazette."

Land Holdings

James owned or co-owned numerous properties beginning as early as 1887 (about age 25). The first 160-acre plot is noted in 1887, co-owned with J. B. Kinsley, in Sections 3 and 4 of Mariposa County Township 3S, Range 18E (roughly 10 miles due east of Coulterville):

Section 3, N½ of SW¼ (80 acres)

Section 4, N½ of SE¼ (80 acres)

Secondly, at the same time, he possessed another 160 acres in Township 2S, Range 19E, Sections 28 and 33, about 6 miles further east:

Section 28, SW¼ of SE¼ (40 acres)

Section 33, N½ of NE¼ (80 acres)

Section 33, SE¼ of NE¼ (40 acres)

Ferguson Mine

"Furguson's Mine" could refer to "Ferguson & Company Mill" or the "Original Mine," later renamed to "Clearing House Mine." If I understand my geography correctly, both are located west of El Portal along Highway 140-- the "Ferguson & Company Mill" about 3½ miles west (as the crow flies) near Hite's Cove Trail, and the "Original Mine" about 4½ miles west of El Portal.

Thirdly, by 1888, James possess a quartz mine called "Golden Rule Mine" situated on the North bank of the Merced River about half a mile west of Furguson's Mine (sic) and a quarter of a mile above the Merced River.

Finally, James held two 80-acre adjoining plots in Mariposa County Township 2S, Range 17E, Sections 28 and 33 near the Red Cloud Mine, about 6 miles ENE of Coulterville, by 1890:

Section 28, S½ of SE¼ (80 acres)

Section 33, W½ of NE¼ (80 acres)

James also obtained land patent 11327, dated July 31, 1896, for land in Section 2 of Township 2 South, Range 16 East (roughly 4 miles NNE of Coulterville).

Annie Passes

Sadly, Annie (Olney) Opie died 13 years later in August 1901 in Stent. She was only 30 years old.

Mariposa Gazette, August 24, 1901

Death of Mrs. Annie Opie

"Word reached Mariposa the latter part of the week announcing the death of Mrs. Annie Opie, wife of James Opie of Stent, Tuolumne County."

"The deceased was the youngest daughter of Augustus Olney who resides near Coulterville. She was born and raised at her father's home and was beloved by all. Besides a husband and three children, there are left a father, four brothers and a sister who are saddened by her death."

James Remarries

After Annie's untimely death, James remarried to Ella L. Doty (Nevill) of Wisconsin about 1905. Ella was 24 years James' junior, and by some accounts, had worked as James' housekeeper prior to their marriage. Ella brought with her an infant boy, Raymond, whom James adopted, and they had two more daughters:

-

Raymond N. Opie

15 May 1903

29 Mar 1976

(72)

-

Ella Priscilla Opie

1 Feb 1906

11 Nov 1979

(73)

-

Mary Juanita Opie

31 Oct 1909

4 Aug 1995

(85)

Ella's Parents

Note: the California Death Index holds Ella's mother's maiden name as DAVIS and father's surname as Doty. Curiously, an Ella G. Willoughby (possibly Ella's mother), is also found in the California Death Index. She was born September 8, 1868 in Wisconsin and died November 16, 1958 in San Diego County, California. Her mother's maiden name was listed as Doty and father's surname of Melville (close to Nevill). Confirmation that this correlates to James' mother-in-law is pending.

James served as a justice of the peace for 39 years in Jamestown. In the 1920 census the Opie family is enumerated on the west side of Main Street in Jamestown, by his own hand (he was the census taker). He continued to live in Jamestown at least through the 1930 census where he lived on Woods Creek with his wife Ella, daughter Ella, daughter Juanita, and her Courtney family.

Jane McNeil Marriage?

Note: Jane McNeil (born about 1832) is believed to have married a James Opie about 1888. She would have been 30 years senior to this James Opie. This unlikely combination suggests an error. For futher discussion of this marriage, see Jane McNeil.

James Opie died on August 30, 1941, in Jamestown, Tuolumne County, Calfornia, and is buried at the Jamestown City Cemetery. He was 79 years old.

Obituary, September 1, 1941

"Judge Opie Dies at Jamestown
Foe of Bootleggers on Bench for 41 years"

"Jamestown, Sept. 1 -- Believed to be California's oldest justice of the peace in point of service, Judge James Opie, 79, who has been dispensing justice here since 1900, died suddenly Saturday afternoon."

"Judge Opie had just returned to his home from his office about 4:45 p.m., when he was stricken with a fatal heart attack. His death terminated a career noted throughout the state, particularly during prohibition, when he became known as the sternest foe of bootleggers and moonshiners sitting on the California bench."

"Funeral Tomorrow"

"Two funeral services will be conducted tomorrow afternoon. The first, at the family home at 2 o'clock, will be in charge of the Knights of Pythias, whith which he was affiliated for over 50 years. Graveside rites will be held by the Foresters of Jamestown in the Jamestown City Cemetery shorty thereafter. The Terzich Funeral Home of Sonoroa will be in charge."

"On Lode 70 Years"

"Judge Opie has been a resident of the Mother Lode 70 years, coming here with his parents from his native England when he was 7 years old. The family first settled [truncated]."

Obituary, September 2, 1941

"Judge Opie Rites Held in Home
Grandchildren Are Local Residents"

"Jamestown, Sept. 2 -- Funeral services in his home were held this afternoon by Knights of Pythias for Justice James Opie, 79, who died Saturday of a heart attack."

"He served as justice of the peace since the turn of the century and was regarded as one of the oldest judges in point of continuous service in California."

"Graveside services in City Cemetery were conducted by the Order of Foresters."

"English-Born"

"A native of England, Judge Opie came to the United States as a boy of 7. His parents brought him to Mariposa County, [illegible] [when] he became of age he moved to Stent, near here, and became a tool sharpener at the Mazeppa Mine."

"He was elected justice of the peace for Stent Township in 1902. After a disastrous fire that leveled the community of about 1500 persons known both as Stent, and Poverty Hill, the township was consolidated with Jamestown."

George OLNEY (1872-1944)

13F.George Olney was born on November 27, 1872, in Coulterville, Mariposa County, California. He married Emily Head on June 2, 1909 in Shady Lawn Farm, Marshall County, Iowa, Emily's native county. They had at least two sons:

13F1.

George Edward Olney

30 May 1910

21 Sep 1942

(32)

13F2.

James D. Olney

29 Jul 1915

23 May 1998

(82)

In the 1900 census of Tuolumne Township 3, Tuolumne County, California, George and his two brothers, Edward and Augustus, are noted as boarders with the John B. Schofield family, George noted as a sawyer.

After the Olneys' wedding in Iowa, the next year their first son is born in Arizona. Five years later they relocate to Covina, Los Angeles County, California, where James was born and the family lived on Arroye Drive.[Cen 1920]

By 1930 George had moved to Oceanside, San Diego County, California, where he was enumerated living alone.[Cen 1930]

George Olney died on July 4, 1944 in San Joaquin County, California, at the age of 71 years. George is buried at the Coulterville Cemetery.

Emily (Head) Olney lived on until June 21, 1966. She died in Nevada County, California, at the age of 79.

Augustus OLNEY, Jr. (1875-1906)

13G.Augustus Olney, Jr. was born on September 27, 1875, in Mariposa County, California, probably at the Olney family home on Greeley Hill, above Coulterville.

In the 1900 census of Tuolumne Township 3, Tuolumne County, California, Augustus and two elder brothers Edward and George are noted as boarders with the John B. Schofield family. Another elder brother Cyrus also lived nearby as a day laborer.

Augustus married A. M. Eassel on October 15, 1896, in Modesto, Stanislaus County, California.

Mariposa Gazette, October 24, 1896

"The wedding of August Onley, owner of the saw mill near Coulterville, and Mrs. A. M. Eassel of Tulare took place at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon of last week in Modesto before a Justice of the peace of that place. Some little stir was caused when the news reached Coulterville and the younger members of this place prepared to give him a royal reception, which they did in a thorough western style. All the old cans, bells and tin horns had been collected together for the occasion and while it was not as soft and sweet of note of a wedding march it had the desired effect. He led the way to a place where refreshments are dispensed and over the flowing bowl his health and happiness was drank."

It is believed that August Olney, Jr. died in Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, on July 18, 1906. He would have only been 30 years old.

Walter F. OLNEY (1880-)

13I.Walter F. Olney was born March 6, 1880, in Mariposa County, California, probably at the Olney family home on Greeley Hill, above Coulterville, Mariposa County. He married a woman named Alice, born to English parents from Austalia. She immigrated as a toddler in either 1886 or 1888 and married Walter about 1907. They had one son who may have died in his youth:

13I1.

Henry A. Olney

(1908)

(<1920)

(<12)

By 1910 the Olney family moved to San Francisco[Cen 1910] for a time but later removed to the East Redwood Precinct of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, by 1920.[Cen 1920-1930]

Alexander M. OLNEY (1882-1971)

13J.Alexander M. Olney was born in September 7, 1882, in California, probably at the Olney family home on Greeley Hill, above Coulterville, Mariposa County. He married Mabel E. Darby, from either Kansas or Arkansas, about 1907. They had five children:

13J1.

Grace Mildren Olney

12 Dec 1907

5 Jan 1986

(78)

13J2.

Erwin E. Olney

23 Sep 1909

14 Oct 1981

(72)

13J3.

Alvin Alexander Olney

16 Apr 1911

3 Sep 1983

(72)

13J4.

Jesse A. Olney

17 Oct 1914

5 Oct 1975

(60)

13J5.

Carol Orman Olney

23 May 1922

9 Feb 1990

(67)

After their marriage the Olneys lived a little while in the Greeley Hill area (Stanislaus Forest Reserve Township 2, per the 1910 Mariposa County census) but removed to Stockton, San Joaquin County, by the 1920 census. There they lived on Jackson Street during the 1930 census.

Alexander M. Olney died on April 28, 1971, in San Joaquin County, California. He was 80 years old.